A couple have been left traumatized after seeing the dead body of a staff member from their five-star hotel being dragged into van after an explosion.
Laura Lewis and boyfriend Chris Roberts thought their £2,200 all-inclusive Thomson Holidays break to Montega Bay, Jamaica, in April would be the perfect respite from their busy jobs.
However within the first 24 hours of their week-long stay there was an explosion in the Riu Reggae Hotel and the terrified couple claim they found staff members screaming and a body being hauled into a vehicle.
The pair were then forced to evacuate their hotel and were allegedly transferred to four different accommodations within the trip and only returned to their original hotel on the last night.
Chris Roberts, 29, and 22-year-old Laura Lewis pictured during their week-long holiday to Jamaica
Guests outside the Riu Reggae Hotel after the explosion in the early hours of the couple’s first night
Despite being told by Thomson Holidays that she would receive a refund as well as payment for counselling Miss Lewis claims she has yet to receive anything from the travel company over two months later.
The 22-year-old, who still thinks about what she witnessed ‘daily’, says she has made numerous calls and emails to the ‘After Travel’ team and visited a local branch where she was even told by a member of staff to seek legal advice.
Laura, from Oswestry, in Shropshire, said: ‘It was so traumatising I couldn’t sleep that night and we couldn’t sleep when we got back either. It’s not something you can forget. I think about it every day.
‘You don’t think it’s something that would happen to you. When you have quite a stressful life it is the last thing you want to happen on a relaxing break.
‘Within the first 24 hours of getting there we had just had lunch and were just getting back to the hotel room and we were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
‘There was a ginormous bang like really bad thunder, a boiler had exploded. We saw lots of staff screaming and crying. We wanted to see what was happening.
The couple have been left traumatized after the distressing incident and claim to have tried seeking help from Thomson Holidays several times
‘They brought out a man who had died and dragged him out in front of us into a van and drove him away. I’m assuming they were taking him to hospital.’
The couple were looking forward to their luxurious break that cost them £2,207 as they both have stressful lives working in agriculture and rarely get time off.
However, they have been left traumatized after the distressing incident and claim to have tried seeking help from the travel company several times.
It has since been reported that a maintenance manager was killed in the explosion and four other employees were injured.
Laura said: ‘Everyone in the hotel were all put on coaches. We didn’t know where we were going. It was absolute mayhem. They put us in another hotel and moved us to four different ones.
‘They never told us where we were going but the reps were telling us not to worry and that we would get a full refund when we got home.
Miss Lewis says she still thinks about the incident on a daily basis
‘We had paid for luxury adult only hotels and they were just placing us in three-star s*** holes.
‘The hotel reopened the day before we were going to leave but the fire alarm went off at 2am and we were all sent outside. Everyone was panicking. It was horrible. It was a disaster.
‘We were sent an automated email from them saying we would get three days’ worth of our money within seven to ten days but we have never received it.
‘They’re just ignoring it now. I’ve been going to one of their agencies every Friday since. The woman there has been trying to get through to the after care team and they won’t even acknowledge it.
‘She said I need to get legal advice. It is disgusting that they are ignoring something so sensitive.
‘I keep being told that I will receive an email but I never do. I was told that I was on the top of their priority list for after care.
‘They offered us counselling but they haven’t followed that up and because I work so much I can’t get to the doctors.’
A Thomson Holidays spokesperson said: ‘We’re really sorry to hear of Ms Lewis’ experience following the incident earlier this year at the Riu Reggae hotel in Jamaica.
‘While no customers were injured, a member of hotel staff was tragically killed. As an investigation was on-going and as we prioritise customer safety we took the decision to move guests to alternative accommodation to ensure their wellbeing.
‘We also offered a refund for any days of their holiday lost and reminded them that our teams in resort were on hand for any further assistance.
‘We’re sorry if there was any misunderstanding and we’re currently investigating this particular case in more detail, particularly given the new information which has just come to light. We will be looking into the matter further and contacting Ms Lewis directly as a priority to try and resolve the situation.’
The couple were looking forward to their luxurious break that cost them £2,207 as they both have stressful lives working in agriculture and rarely get time off
A Riu Reggae Hotel statement confirmed a member of staff had been killed while carrying out maintenance work.
‘Unfortunately, one of our colleagues perished, and four others were injured,’ a spokesman said.
‘They are truly beloved colleagues and all the RIU family in Jamaica is still extremely saddened and moved by the incident because the deceased was not just a coworker but a mentor, a leader and a friend.
‘Our hearts are with their families and we have worked very hard to ensure that the injured received the best medical treatment possible.
‘Professional support was also provided for the rest of the team at the hotel to help them cope with this tragedy. Fortunately, right now only one worker is still recovering in the hospital.
‘Even though our guests were never in danger because the incident was isolated, all were relocated in other RIU hotels as a preventive measure.
They added: ‘About the alarm that went off after re-opening, we can tell you that it was an act of vandalism and that the person responsible was put in custody of the authorities and is facing charges in court.’
You must log in to post a comment.